Drag bucket



March 25, 1930. E. YOUNIE 1,751,967

DRAG BUCKET Filed 001;. 5, 1928 I VEN TOR.

BY 72 w ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEWIS E. YOUNIE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC STEEL FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF OREGON DRAG BUCKET Application filed Gctober 3, 1928. Serial No. 310,074.

In the use of drag buckets the very severe duty to which such a bucket is exposed very often results in distortion of the bucket through the shock incident to the contact of the forward end of the bucket with obstructions. IVith the ordinary metal of which drag buckets are formed such distortion gives to the bucket a permanent mis-shape. lVith the present invention the forward end of the bucket is flexibly connected with the body of the bucket and free to yield under shock so that a permanent distortion of the bucket is avoided. Preferably the forward connection and arch are formed of resilient material, such as springs, so as to more readily yield and return to shape following unusual shocks. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

Preferable embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a bucket.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a front elevation of the bucket.

Fig. 4: a side elevation of an alternative construction of bucket.

Fig. 5 an enlarged top view showing the connections illustrated in Fig. 4.

1 marks the body of the bucket. This has the usual lip 2 and lifting trunnions 3. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the arch 4 is formed of spring steel plates, preferably such plates as are used for car springs. Two of these springs are formed side by side thus completing the arch. The arch is connected by spring plates 5 which extend from the arch to the front end of the bucket. There are three pairs of plates 5, one above the other, and the plates of each pair are arranged between the leaves of the arch 4:, three of the leaves of the arch 4 preferably extending down with the plates 5 alternating between them. The plates 4 and 5 are secured together by rivets 6 and the plates are secured to the front of the bucket by rivets 7. A plate 8 is arranged over the plates 5 and secured by rivets 9 to the front end of the bucket. The plate 8 gives to the plates 5 a slight freedom at their connection with the bucket so that they are less apt to break at this point when flexed.

A hoisting plate 10 extends over the top of the arch and it is secured by bolts 11 which extend through the leaves of the arch 4. Supplemental leaves 12 may be supplied to the under-side of the arch, if desired, in addition to those leaves which extend down to connect with the plates 5.

Hitch plates 13 are secured to the front ends of the lower plates 5. These are U- shaped and extend each side of the plates and are secured to the plates by rivets 13.

IVhen the arch under this construction is subjected to violent blows incident to its use these blows are cushioned through the resiliency of the arch and connections and thus the shock is relieved and the material while yielding to the shock immediately returns to its original shape. Where rigid material is used there is no yielding except with permanent distortion of the material injury is almost sure to follow the rough usage to which these buckets are subjected.

In the alternative construction the bucket body 14L has a hinge plate 15 secured at its front end and this hinge is supplied with a number of knuckle projections 16. The arch 17 maybe of any preferred construction but is provided with a series of hinge knuckles 18 on its rear edges. A connecting plate 19 is provided with knuckles 19 at each edge which alternate with the knuckles 16 and 18 and are pivotally secured thereto by hinge pins 20. Hitch projections 21 are formed on the front edges of the arch. Viith this construction the arch is permitted to yield when it is subjected to a blow and thus permanent injury to the arch is very largely avoided.

hat I claim as new is 1. In a drag bucket, the combination of a bucket body; an arch in advance of the body; and a resilient connection between the body and the arch.

2. In a drag bucket, the combination of a bucket body; a hitch plate in advance of the body; and a resilient connection between the hitch plate and the body.

3. In a drag bucket, the combination of a bucket body; an arch in advance of the body: a resilient connection between the body and the arch; and a hitch plate connected with the arch.

4. In a drag bucket, the combination of a bucket body; a resilient arch in advance of the body; and a connection between the body and the arch.

5. In a drag bucket, the combination of a bucket body; a resilient arch in advance of the body; and a flexible connection between the body and the arch.

6. In a drag bucket, the combination of a bucket body; a resilient arch in advance of the body; and a resilient connection between the body and the arch.

, 7 In a drag line'bucket, the combination of a bucket body; an arch formed of a series of spring leaves; and a connection between the arch and the body comprising a series of spring plates.

8. In a drag line bucket,-the combination of a bucket body; an arch formed of a series of spring leaves; a connection between the arch and the body comprising a'series of spring plates, the lower ends of the spring leaves alternating with the front ends of the plates; and means of securing the leaves tothe plates. '9. In a drag line bucket, the combination of abucket body; an arch formed of a series of spring leaves; a connection between the arch and the body comprising a series of spring plates, the lower ends of the spring leaves alternating with the front ends of the plates; means of securing theleaves to the plates; and hitch plates secured to the frontends of the plates.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEWIS E. YOUNIE, 

